The shot clock is coming to a regular European Tour event next year, with penalty shots handed out to dawdlers, in the most radical move yet to tackle the horrendous blight of slow play.

The welcome initiative will be trialled at the Austrian Open with one official estimating it will speed up rounds by 45 minutes.

If that happens, it’s hard to believe it wouldn’t be introduced subsequently at every tournament in the world.

England's Lee Westwood supports the idea of golfers being on a time limit

The shot clock was introduced on one hole at the GolfSixes event at St Albans in May – with players allowed 40 seconds to complete a stroke - where it proved a great success.

The dilemma for the tour was how to implement the principle on every hole in a regular tournament but it sounds like they’ve come up with a neat variation.

A referee will walk with every group and time every stroke. Players will be allowed 40 seconds for each shot and receive the equivalent of a yellow card for a first offence. Every breach thereafter will see them docked a penalty stroke each time.

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At last, someone has got serious about slow play.

‘The idea was floated at a players’ meeting on Tuesday night and it received unanimous support,’ said the official, a view backed by Lee Westwood. ‘What a brilliant idea, and long overdue,’ the Englishman told Sportsmail.

The idea for the Austrian Open stems from the GolfSixes event at St Albans in May

Golf’s leading bodies have tiptoed pitifully around the subject for years without ever doing anything meaningful.

Westwood’s Ryder Cup team mate Andy Sullivan was another huge advocate at St Albans. ‘It underlines how long 40 seconds is to play a shot and how ridiculous it is that rounds take so long,’ he said. ‘The sooner it’s introduced on tour, the better.’

Now Sully has got his wish, although it was ironic the idea was raised at the Alfred Dunhill Links at St Andrews, where rounds in the pro-am format frequently last a glacial six hours.